You can buy a thing, not a person. There is no choice, and no competition. Know that.

Realize society will always criticize you.

Not everyone wants you to succeed, and you are on the top of that list. Get over it.

Practical is not the same as smart.

That doesn’t make being emotional smart.

Logic isn’t right always.

There is no right or wrong in reality.

Ethics vary.

There are no constant rules, and no constants.

Life goes on without love.

As a kid, you fall, break your hand, and cry. After growing up, you fall, break your heart, and cry. Your hand is perfectly fine, and your heart will be too.

Give and take doesn’t work. Giving all the time, doesn’t either.

Looks matter. Words matter. But personality matters more.

Money buys everything, except eternal happiness and life.

Compromise brings happiness.

Sadness is compulsory.

Tears don’t make you weak. It means, your lacrimal apparatus is functioning.

Don’t trust everyone.

Sometimes it is necessary to believe people blindly.

Mold yourself into a person everyone can trust.

Speaking the truth all the time is foolish. White lies are acceptable.

People take advantage of you if you are always polite.

Know who to help, and who not to.

There is a limit to generosity and kindness.

Being an adult doesn’t mean you can’t be a child anymore.

Children aren’t innocent; adults aren’t at fault every time.

Beware of your own expectations.

The idea that you live once is wrong. You live every day.

Realize that nobody can be smart all the time.

Skipping some of these points is also smart. Bonus points if you can fully decipher the deeper meaning in each point.

This question originally appeared on Quora – the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions:​